JP2003075208A - Meter pointer and vehicle pointer meter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a combination meter 1 having a novel visibility with good appearance as a vehicular pointer meter by devising the shape and constitution of a pointer 10 for meters so as to change the visible shape when a light source turns on and off. SOLUTION: A colored layer 14 is formed on the surface 11a of the body 11 of a pointer 10 and the surface 12a of a rotary base 12, and a light reflection layer 15 is formed on the backside 11b of the body 11 and the backside 12b of the rotary base 12 so that the contour line D of the layer 14 locates inside the contour line N of the reflection layer 15, as seen in the axial direction of a pointer shaft 21. Thus, the surface of the colored layer 14 is visible with a light emitting diode 16 set off and the reflection layer 15 is visible with the diode 16 set on, this making the visible shape of the pointer 10 quite different when the diode 16 is set on and off. Accordingly, a speed meter 1 with a novel nice appearance is provided for vehicular pointer meters.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pointer for a meter and a pointer for a vehicle suitable for use in an automobile or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in order to improve the appearance of a pointer instrument for a vehicle mounted on an automobile or the like and give it a high-class appearance, various methods have been adopted for the configuration of the pointer and the like. For example, in the pointer disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-18980, a light reflecting layer is provided on the back surface of the pointer main body made of a light guide material and on which light from the light source is incident, and a half mirror layer is provided on the front surface of the pointer main body. It is provided. The half mirror layer on the pointer surface is visible when the light source is off, and the light reflection layer on the back surface of the pointer is visible when the light source is on, so that the visible state of the pointer differs when the light source is off and when it is on. .

[0003]

However, in this pointer, although the visible state of the pointer can be different between when the light source is off and when it is on, the visible shape of the pointer is in any case. It is the same. Therefore, the appearance of the pointer may be uniform.

Therefore, in order to deal with such a situation, the present invention devises the shape and configuration of the pointer so that the visible state of the pointer including the visible shape can be changed when the light source is off and when it is on. It is an object of the present invention to provide a pointer for a meter and a pointer for a vehicle that have a novel appearance.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following technical means.

The instrument pointer according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises:
The indicator is made of a transparent light guide material, and has a light source that allows light to enter the indicator from the turning base side toward the tip thereof, and a light that is formed along the back surface of the indicator to reflect light from the light source. And a colored layer formed along the surface of the indicating portion, and the shape of the reflective layer is different from the shape of the colored layer. As a result, the shape of the colored layer on the surface of the indicator that is visible when the light source is off and the shape of the light reflection layer on the back of the indicator that is visible when the light source is on are different. The visually recognizable shape can be changed, and it is possible to provide a pointer for an instrument having a novel appearance.

The indicator for an instrument according to claim 2 of the present invention comprises:
The contour of the colored layer is located inside the contour of the light-reflecting layer when viewed in the axial direction of the pointer axis. This allows
The visual display shape of the pointer when the light source is off can be made smaller than the visual display shape of the pointer when the light source is on, and the visual shape of the instrument pointer can be changed when the light source is off and when the light source is on. It is possible to provide a pointer for the instrument.

In the instrument pointer according to the third aspect of the present invention, the indicator is made of a transparent light guide material, and a light source is provided in the indicator, the light entering the tip from the rotary base. A recess is provided along the back surface of the indicator, and the light reflection layer is formed on the back surface except the recess.
Thus, when the light source is turned off, the concave portion on the back surface of the pointing portion reflects external light (sunlight or the like) and is visually recognized, and when the light source is turned on, the light reflection layer on the back surface of the pointing portion is visually recognized. here,
Since the visual shape is different between the concave portion and the light reflection layer shape, the visual shape of the instrument pointer can be changed when the light source is off and when it is on, and a novel instrument pointer can be provided. .

In the vehicle pointer instrument according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the indicator portion of the indicator pointer that rotates along the display board is formed of a transparent light guide material, and the tip portion of the pointer is provided inside the indicator portion. A light source which receives light from the side of the rotating base, a light reflection layer which is formed along the back surface of the indicator and reflects the light from the light source, and a colored layer which is formed along the surface of the indicator. Prepare,
The shape of the reflective layer was different from that of the colored layer. As a result, the shape of the colored layer on the surface of the indicator that is visible when the light source is off and the shape of the light reflection layer on the back of the indicator that is visible when the light source is on are different. It is possible to provide a vehicle pointer instrument that can change the visually recognized shape and has a novel appearance.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the pointer portion of the pointer for the instrument that rotates along the display panel is formed of a transparent light guide material, and the tip portion of the pointer is inside the pointer portion. A light source that receives light from the side of the rotation base and a recess provided along the back surface of the indicator are provided, and the light reflection layer is formed on the back surface excluding this recess. Thus, when the light source is turned off, the concave portion on the back surface of the pointing portion reflects external light (sunlight or the like) and is visually recognized, and when the light source is turned on, the light reflection layer on the back surface of the pointing portion is visually recognized. Here, the visual shape of the concave portion and the shape of the light reflecting layer are different, so the visual shape of the instrument pointer can be changed when the light source is turned off and when it is turned on, providing a novel pointer indicator for the vehicle. can do.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a pointer for a meter and a pointer for a vehicle according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a vehicle speedometer 1 for an automobile, which is a pointer indicator for a vehicle to which a pointer for an instrument according to the present invention is applied. is there.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the vehicle speedometer 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle speedometer 1 is provided with a display board 2, and an arcuate vehicle speed scale display portion 2a is formed on the display board 2 as shown in FIG. ing. The vehicle speed scale display portion 2a is located concentrically with the through hole portion 2b of the display board 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle speedometer 1 is provided with a pointer 10 which is a pointer for measuring instrument. The pointer 10 is an indicator portion of the pointer 10 as shown in FIG. It is provided with a certain pointer main body 11, a rotation base portion 12, and a boss portion 13 having a T-shaped cross section. The pointer 10 has a rotating base portion 12,
It is supported by the tip of a pointer shaft 21 extending through the through hole 2 b of the display board 2 via the boss 13. The pointer main body 11 extends from the rotating base 12 along the display board 2, and the pointer main body 11 is formed of a light guide material such as transparent acrylic resin.

The pointer 10 is a colored layer 14 and a light reflection layer 15.
Is equipped with. The colored layer 14 is the surface 11a of the pointer main body 11.
And the light reflecting layer 15 is formed along the back surface 11b of the pointer main body 11 and the back surface 12b of the rotating base portion 12. Both the colored layer 14 and the light reflection layer 15 are formed by hot stamping.

Here, the colored layer 14 formed on the pointer 10
The shape of the light reflection layer 15 will be described. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the pointer main body 11, that is, III- in FIG.
A III line sectional view is shown. FIG. 4 shows contour lines of the colored layer 14 and the light reflection layer 15 as seen from the axial direction of the pointer shaft 21. In FIG. 4, the contour line D is the contour line of the colored layer 14,
The contour lines N indicate the contour lines of the light reflection layer 15, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the width A of the colored layer 14 is
Is smaller than the width B of the light reflection layer 15 and the colored layer 14
The contour line D is set to be located inside the contour line N of the light reflection layer 15.

The pointer 10 also includes a light emitting diode 16 as a light source. The light emitting diode 16 has its hemispherical light emitting portion mounted in the hemispherical recess 12c at the end of the rotating base 12, and the light emitting diode 16 extends from the recess 12c toward the tip of the pointer main body 11. Inject light. Then, the light emitted from the light emitting diode 16 is reflected by the light reflection layer 15 and is visually recognized as the pointer 10. In order to prevent the light emitted from the light emitting diode 16 from being directly emitted to the outside of the pointer 10 and to adjust the appearance of the pointer 10, a light shielding cover 17 is attached to the rotating base 12 so as to cover the light emitting diode 16. There is.

The vehicle speedometer 1 includes a movement 20 and a control circuit 30, and the movement 20 includes a control circuit 3
The pointer shaft 21 is rotated under the control of 0. The movement 20 is fixed to the display board 2 via an annular flange portion 22 on the upper side in FIG.

The control circuit 30 is supplied with power from a battery (not shown) through an ignition switch (not shown) of the automobile, and drives and controls the movement 20 and the light emitting diode 16. The control circuit 30 is formed by mounting various electronic components 32 on a printed circuit board 31. When the control circuit 30 applies a voltage corresponding to the vehicle speed to the movement 20, the movement 20 rotates the pointer 10 and the pointer 10 indicates a predetermined vehicle speed on the vehicle speed scale display portion 2a (see FIG. 2). . This makes the guideline 1
The driver can visually recognize the instruction state of 0.

Next, the visual confirmation shape (visual confirmation state) of the pointer 10 in the vehicle speedometer 1 configured as described above will be described.

(1) When the light emitting diode 16 is in the off state. For example, daytime.

In this case, the light reflecting layer 15 does not reflect the light from the light emitting diode 16. On the other hand, since the colored layer 14 reflects external light (sunlight), the shape of the colored layer 14, that is, the contour line D of FIG.

(2) When the light emitting diode 16 is in a lighting state. For example, at night.

In this case, the light emitting diode 16 makes its light incident from the concave portion 12c of the rotating base 12 of the pointer 10 toward the tip of the pointer main body 11. In the pointer 10, the light reflecting layer 15 reflects the light from the light emitting diode 16, so that the shape of the light reflecting layer 15, that is, the contour line N in FIG. That is, the pointer 10 is visually recognized slightly larger than when the light emitting diode 16 is in the off state. Here, the visible state of the colored layer 14 changes depending on its light transmittance. That is, when the light transmittance of the colored layer 14 = 0, the colored layer 14 looks black because there is no external light. On the other hand, the light transmittance of the colored layer 14 is not 0,
That is, in the case of being semi-transparent, the light from the light emitting diode 16 reflected by the light reflecting layer 15 is transmitted through the colored layer 14,
Part of the outline D of FIG. 4 is visually recognized in the color of the colored layer 14. That is, the pointer 10 is displayed in two colors.

As described above, in the vehicle speedometer 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the surface 11a of the pointer main body 11 of the pointer 10 and the surface 12a of the rotating base 12 of the pointer 10 when viewed in the axial direction of the pointer shaft 21. The contour line D of the colored layer 14 formed along the back surface of the pointer main body 11 and the rotary base 1
It was set so as to be located inside the contour line N of the light reflection layer 15 formed along the back surface 12b of No. 2. Thereby, the surface of the colored layer 14 is visually recognized when the light emitting diode 16 is turned off, and the light reflection layer 15 is visually recognized when the light emitting diode 16 is turned on. That is, the visible shape of the pointer 10 when the light emitting diode 16 is on and the pointer 1 when it is off.
The visually recognized shape of 0 can be completely different.
Therefore, it is possible to provide the vehicle speedometer 1 as a pointer instrument for a vehicle having a novel appearance.

FIG. 5 shows a modification of the pointer 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this modification, the pointer body 1
The cross-sectional shapes of 1 and the rotation base 12 are changed. Also in this case, the same effect as that of the above-described first embodiment of the present invention can be obtained.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
The cross-sectional view of the pointer 10 of the vehicle speedometer 1 according to the embodiment of FIG.

In the pointer 10 of the vehicle speedometer 1 according to the second embodiment, the coloring layer 14 is eliminated, and the concave portion 18 is formed along the back surface 11b of the pointer main body 11 and the back surface 12b of the rotary base 12. The light reflecting layer 15 was formed on the back surface 11b of the pointer main body 11 and the back surface 12b of the rotating base 12 excluding the recess 18.

Next, the display state (visual confirmation state) of the pointer 10 in the vehicle speedometer 1 configured as described above will be described.

(1) When the light emitting diode 16 is in the off state. For example, daytime.

In this case, the light reflecting layer 15 does not reflect the light from the light emitting diode 16. On the other hand, external light (sunlight) enters the pointer 10 from the surface 11a of the pointer main body 11 and the surface 12a of the rotating base 12, and the surface 1 of the concave portion 18 is exposed.
Since it is reflected by 8a, the shape of the recess 18, that is, the contour line E of FIG.

(2) When the light emitting diode 16 is in a lighting state. For example, at night.

In this case, the light emitting diode 16 makes its light incident from the concave portion 12c of the rotating base 12 of the pointer 10 toward the tip of the pointer main body 11. Then, in the pointer 10, the light reflecting layer 15 reflects the light from the light emitting diode 16, so that the shape of the light reflecting layer 15, that is, the contour line N in FIG. That is, the pointer 10 is visually recognized slightly larger than when the light emitting diode 16 is in the off state.

Also in the vehicle speedometer 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention described above, as in the case of the first embodiment of the present invention, the visible shape and the extinguished state of the pointer 10 when the light emitting diode 16 is turned on. The visible shape of the pointer 10 can be made completely different. Therefore,
It is possible to provide the vehicle speedometer 1 as a pointer instrument for a vehicle having a novel appearance.

9 and 10 show a modified example and another modified example of the pointer 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In these modified examples and other modified examples, the shape of the recess 18 is changed. Also in this case, the same effect as in the case of the above-described second embodiment of the present invention can be obtained.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 10 shows a partial sectional view of a vehicle speedometer 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

In the vehicle speedometer 1 according to the third embodiment, the position of the light emitting diode 16 which is a light source is changed with respect to the vehicle speedometer 1 according to the first embodiment and the second embodiment. Although FIG. 10 is shown based on the pointer 10 according to the first embodiment, the position of the light emitting diode 16 is similar to that of the second embodiment.

In the vehicle speedometer 1 according to the third embodiment, the light emitting diode 16 is mounted on the back surface side of the display board 2 and the light guide plate 19 for guiding the light emitted from the light emitting diode 16 to the pointer 10. It is attached to the back of the display panel 2.

Light-emitting diode 16 incident on the light guide 19.
The light emitted by the light travels in the light guide 19 and is reflected by the reflecting surface 19a as shown by the arrow in FIG.
The light enters the pointer 10 from the bottom surface 13a of the. Then, the light is reflected by the reflecting surfaces 12e and 12d, travels toward the tip side of the pointer 10, and is reflected by the light reflecting layer 15 to be visually recognized as the pointer 10.

Also in the vehicle speedometer 1 according to the third embodiment configured as described above, as in the case of the first embodiment of the present invention, the pointer 1 when the light emitting diode 16 is in the lighting state.
The visible shape of 0 and the visible shape of the pointer 10 in the off state can be completely different. Therefore, it is possible to provide the vehicle speedometer 1 as a pointer instrument for a vehicle having a novel appearance.

Further, in the third embodiment, the power supply means (for example, a ring + brush, etc., not shown) capable of supplying power to the light emitting diode 16 in the rotating pointer 10 is unnecessary, and the vehicle speed meter 1 It is possible to reduce the number of parts and the number of assembling steps.

In the vehicle speedometer 1 according to the first to third embodiments of the present invention described above, the light emitting diode 16 is used as a light source, but another light source such as a light bulb or a cold cathode discharge tube is used. May be used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a vehicle speedometer 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the vehicle speedometer 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a cross-sectional view of the pointer 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the pointer 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the pointer 10 of the vehicle speedometer 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a pointer 10 of a vehicle speedometer 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a pointer 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the pointer 10 of the vehicle speedometer 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing another modified example of the pointer 10 of the vehicle speedometer 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a partial sectional view of a vehicle speedometer 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Speedometer (Vehicle pointer instrument) 2 display board 2a Scale display 2b through hole 10 pointers (meter pointers) 11 Pointer body (instruction part) 11a surface 11b back side 12 Rotating base 12a surface 12b back side 12c recess 12d, 12e reflective surface 13 Boss 13a bottom 14 Colored layer 15 Light reflection layer 16 Light emitting diode (light source) 17 Shading cover 18 recess 18a surface 19 Light guide plate 19a reflective surface 20 movements 21 pointer axis 22 Annular flange 30 control circuit 31 printed circuit board 32 electronic components A width B width D contour line E contour N contour line

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A pointer having a rotation base portion supported and fixed to a tip end portion of a pointer shaft of a pointer instrument, and an indicator portion rotatably extending from the rotation base portion along a display board, The indicator is formed of a transparent light guide material, and includes a light source that enters light from the rotation base side toward the tip of the indicator and a light source that is formed along the back surface of the indicator. An instrument pointer, comprising: a light reflecting layer that reflects light; and a colored layer formed along the surface of the indicating portion, wherein the shape of the light reflecting layer is different from the shape of the colored layer. 2. The instrument pointer according to claim 1, wherein the contour line of the colored layer is located inside the contour line of the light reflection layer when viewed in the axial direction of the pointer shaft. 3. A pointer having a rotation base portion supported and fixed to a tip end portion of a pointer shaft of a pointer instrument, and an indicator portion rotatably extending from the rotation base portion along a display board, The indicator is formed of a transparent light guide material, and includes a light source that allows light to be incident from the rotation base side toward the distal end of the indicator, and a recess provided along the back surface of the indicator. An instrument pointer, wherein a light reflection layer is formed on the back surface except the recess. 4. A pointer having a display board, a rotation base portion supported and fixed to a tip end portion of a pointer shaft, and an indicator portion rotatably extending along the display board from the rotation base portion. In a pointer instrument for a vehicle provided with, the indicator is formed of a transparent light guide material, a light source for injecting light from the rotation base side toward the tip of the indicator, and a back surface of the indicator. A light reflection layer formed along the light reflection layer for reflecting light from the light source; and a colored layer formed along the surface of the indicator, wherein the shape of the light reflection layer is different from the shape of the colored layer. A pointer instrument for vehicles characterized by. 5. A pointer having a display board, a rotation base portion supported and fixed to a tip end portion of a pointer shaft, and an indicator portion rotatably extending along the display board from the rotation base portion. In a pointer instrument for a vehicle provided with, the indicator is formed of a transparent light guide material, a light source for injecting light from the rotation base side toward the tip of the indicator, and a back surface of the indicator. A vehicle pointer instrument, comprising: a concave portion provided along the light guide layer; and a light reflection layer formed on the back surface excluding the concave portion.